Creating the Conversation: The Dialogue Between Theology and Aesthetics

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Abstract

The theologian and the artist share many of the same tasks. Both
penetrate the surface of everyday life, seeking meaning beyond the mundane,
to answer the great existential questions of life. Both seek truth, beauty, and an
attentive audience. Both "provide the patterns of meaning, the frames of
perception, by which society interprets its experiences and from which it makes
conclusions about the nature of its world." However, it should be noted that
the "truths" that they seek may be considerably different from one another, the
sought "beauty" may often be distinct (or even conflicting); and their
understandings of the world and ultimate reality may be ideologically opposed.
These conclusions might lead one to deem the differences between the two
disciplines irreconcilable. The goal of this project will be to present such a case for the
implementation of an aesthetic theology within Christianity. This argument is
directed at both the formal theologians and the "everyday" theologians, those
desiring to make judgments regarding ultimate reality in life. For both types
contemplate aesthetic creations every day and aesthetic creations in the context
of religion almost as often. My argument will closely parallel but not
be limited to Frank Burch Brown's neo-aesthetic project, found in his book
Religious Aesthetics: A Theological Study of Making and Meaning. I propose to
extend his argument a step further to show not only that aesthetic theology is
possible and desirable, but also that it ought to be definitely implemented into
theological and cultic practice. It is necessary that theologians of both formal and informal varieties develop an aesthetic awareness and adapt their
understanding of both theology and religion.